Page 18 of A Veteran’s Second Chance

I kiss slowly and lick hard, working her into a frenzy. Her cries fill my ears, and I’ve missed that sound so much. I lap at her hard nub until her body quivers and her release coats my tongue. When she stops shaking, I start up again. If this is how I earn forgiveness, then I’m here for it.

I draw her to orgasm over and over again until her legs are floppy and she’s forgotten to be mad at me.

Only then do I stand up and wipe her juice from my chin. I find the bathroom and come back with a warm washcloth to wipe her sticky thighs.

She’s sleepy as I help her back into her yoga pants.

“Come on, Peaches. I’ll put you to bed.”

I follow her into the bedroom and pull down the sheets. I want her to invite me in, but we’re not there yet.

“Don’t think this means anything, Logan,” she says as she climbs between the sheets. “You’re not forgiven.”

I pull the covers up to her chin, and Panda jumps onto the bed, taking what should be my spot in the space next to her. He glares up at me, sticks his leg in the air and begins to lick his asshole. Damn cat’s giving me a warning too.

“I can never change what happened, Savanna, but I hope I can make your life better now.”

She gives me a sleepy scowl. “You can make it better with more orgasms like that, but don’t get any ideas. I trust you with my body, Logan, but I’ll never trust you with my heart again.”

I leave her in bed with her words ringing in my ears. I should be happy. The woman I love has given me her body, but it’s her heart I want, and that’s going to be harder to claim.

11

SAVANNA

One week later…

The trail turns a corner and opens up to a stunning view. Emerald Lake winks in the distance as Hope Valley spreads out before us.

I ease the pack off my shoulders and rest it on a boulder that’s smooth with age. Logan stops beside me and shades his eyes with his hands. “Is that the Emerald Lake Resort that Axel runs?”

I squint at the buildings by the lake and can just make out the gondola, taking people up the slopes. There’s no skiing at this time of year, but the views are stunning and tourists flock there in the summer.

“Yup, that’s Axel’s place.”

“I met Axel at bonfire night,” Logan says. “Seems like a solid guy.”

Axel is an older veteran and a good friend of Joel’s. It was his money that helped bankroll Jake’s Retreat.

It’s been a week since I let Logan into my house and between my thighs. Since then, he’s been true to his word, giving me orgasms with his hand and his tongue and never once asking for anything in return. He doesn’t seem to mind that I use him for release. I’m taking from him, selfishly, and it feels freaking amazing. It’s a satisfactory arrangement, while he pays off his debt for breaking my heart with orgasms.

Sometimes he makes me dinner, sometimes he gets straight to giving me what I need. Then he slips out the door and leaves me in peace.

And if last night I felt an ache when he left, if I wanted to call him back to my bed and give him a release and have him beside me while I slept, then I kept that to myself. It’s only sex. Not even sex. We haven’t gone all the way, and I’m okay with that. Mostly. But the last few nights, I’ve wanted to share my pleasure with him. I’ve yearned to undress him and feel him inside me.

“You hungry?”

I snap out of my thoughts as Logan unzips the daypack. I insisted on carrying it so it wouldn’t hurt his shoulder. He grumbled about it, but I said I’d tell Cliff, and no one wants to piss off the big man with the strong hands who is my colleague.

Logan pulls out a brown bag with two sandwiches he made. I could get used to a man making me food and giving me orgasms.

I climb onto the boulder, and Logan hands me a sandwich. Instead of climbing up next to me, he leans against the boulder, and we eat in silence, looking out at the view.

The hike was his idea, as was getting up at silly o’clock and starting out early.

I was wary about coming out with him, but it’s been fun. The conversation has been easy, and it’s nice getting to know him again.

“What brought you to Hope?” Logan asks.